Orchard ladder safety device



. May 23, 1933- E' KRUSE 1,910,551

ORCHARD LADDER SAFETY'DEVICE Filed Nov. 11, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l May23, KRUSE ORCHARD LADDER SAFETY DEVICE Filed Nov. 11, 1930 2Sheets-Sheet Patented May 23, 1933 ERNST J. KRUSE, OF W'ENATOHEE,WASHINGTON ORCHARD LADDER SAFETY DEVICE Application filed November 11,1930. Serial No. 494,969.

The present invention relates to ladders or the like and moreparticularly to a step ladder which is adapted to be used in the pickingof fruit from the fruit trees.

An object of this invention is to provide a safety ladder which may bereadily used by a person in the picking of fruit from trees andparticularly in the picking of apples, the device being so constructedas to permit the positioning of the. ladder at any desired angle for thepicking of fruit from the trees.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this kindwhich will not readily tip over when the operator or user thereof leansover during the picking of fruit or the like from the trees and the device further embodies means for positioning the ladder on round ofvarious contours so that the ladder may be readily mounted on ahillside.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this inventionwill in part be described in and in part be understood from thefollowing detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, thesame being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein I Figure 1is a detail perspective view of a preferred embodiment of thisinvention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section partly in detail showing themanner of mounting the bracing legs on the ladder;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail front elevation of a modification ofthis device, and

Figure 4 is a sectional view partly in tail taken on the line 44 ofFigure 3.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10designates generally a ladder of conventional construction which isadapted to be used in the picking of fruit from fruit trees, the ladderembodying a pair of parallel side frame members 11 and a plurality oflongitudinally spaced steps 12 which are adapted to hold the sidemembers 11 in spaced relation to each other. The steps 12 are preferablyslightly inclined from the transverse axis of the side frame members 11so that When the ladder 10 is mounted at an angle, it will notinconvenience a person to stand on any of the steps 12 for a length oftime in the picking of the fruit from the trees.

A relatively wide and large top member 18 is mounted on the upper end ofthe side frame members 11. In the embodiment of this invention shown inFigure 2, there is disclosed an adjustable brace designated 14 which isfree at one end thereof and at the opposite end is secured to a hingeplate 15 which is bolted to said opposite end by means of bolts orscrews 16 or the like.

his leaf of thechinge 15 is provided with an aperture 17 for swingablymounting the brace 14 on the side members 11. The side members 11 areprovided with an outstanding bolt 18 and a sleeve or bearing member 19is mounted about the bolt 18. A washer 20 is positioned about the bolt18 and engages against the side of the frame member 11 and one end ofthe sleeve 19.

A second washer 21 is positioned about the bolt 18 and engages againstthe opposite end of the sleeve or bearing 19, these washers 20 and 21being adapted to engage against the opposite faces of the leaf 22 of thehinge 15. A nut 28 is threadably mounted on the bolt 18 and is adaptedto hold the leaf 22 against removal from the bolt 18.

A locking bar 24 is swingably mounted at one end on the side framemembers 11 and the opposite end of the locking bar 24 is adapted toengage a bolt or securing member 25 on the bracing member 14 which maybe constructed in the form of an L-shaped bolt or the like and thelocking bar 24 is provided with a plurality of notches 26 within whichthe bolt 25 is adapted to engage for holding the brace 14 in adjustedposition with respect to the angle of the side frame members 11. a

The locking bar 24 may be lifted upward ly a suflicient distance so asto permit the ready adjustment of the brace 14 and when the brace 14 ispositioned at the desired an gle with respect to the ladder 10, thelocking bar 24 may be moved downwardly so that the bolt will engage inthe selected notch 26. The upper end of the brace 14 may be secured tothe ladder 10 at any desired point therealon and is preferably securedintermediate the opposite ends of the ladder 10 so that the braces 14will constitute a pair of adjustable legs for holding the ladder 10* inupright position. The braces or legs 14: may be swung inwardly towardthe side members 11 when it is desired to move or transport the ladderand are held in collapsed position by means of a pair of U- shapedclamps 27 which are secured to the outer faces of the side frame members11.

In the embodiment of this invention shown in Figure 3 the ladder 10 isprovided along the sides 11 thereof with an elongated guide bar 28 whichis secured to the sides 11 by means of bolts 29 or the like, the guidebar 28 at the opposite ends thereof being provided with inwardlyextending portions 30 which terminate in outwardly extending lugs 31which extend in a plane parallel to the guide bar 28.

A slide 32 is mounted on the guide bar 28 and is provided with a pair ofspaced cars 33 which have alined apertures 34. The supporting legs 14have a plate 15 the upper end thereof which is provided with a suitableaperture for receiving a bolt 35 so as to swingably and adjustablysecure the legs 14: on the frame members 11.

The bar 28 may be constructed in the form of a round bar or the like andis provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures 36 andin like manner, the slide 32 is provided with a plurality of apertures37 therethrough which are adapted to register with selected apertures 36and a locking bolt or pin 38 is adapted to be adjust-ably positioned inthe selected apertures 36 and 37 for positioning the slide 32 at thedesired point on the guide bar 28.

In the use of this device, the lower end of the ladder 1O constitutesone supporting leg and the adjustable leg members 14 may be extendedoutwardly of the side frame members 11 so as to support the ladder 10 atthe desired angle. The legs 1d and 1% may be secured in adjustedposition by scans of the locking bar 24, the notched portion 26 of thelocking bar 24 engaging the bolt or securing member 25 so as to preventany movement of the leg 14 with respect to the ladder 10. Through theuse of the leg members 14-, it will be possible for a person to stand onthe top 13 of the ladder 10 and lean over to a considerable degree orangle without overbalancing the ladder. The ladder 10 may be providedwith a supporting leg 39 which is swingably secured to the upper end ofthe ladder and cooperates with the legs 14 and 14' in maintaining theladder upright.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications maybe made in the details of construction and design of the abovespecifically described embodment of this invention without departingfrom the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restrictedonly by the scope of the following claim.

I claim An orchard ladder comprising a ladder structure, a supportingleg swingably secured to the upper end of the ladder, a pair of bracingmembers, a hinge for each bracing member, means for securing one leaf ofeach hinge to one of said bracing members, a pair of guide bars disposedone on each side of the ladder, a slide engaging each guide bar, meansengaging the slide and the guide bar to hold the slide in adjustedposition on the guide, and means engaging the other leaf of the hingeand the slide to pivotally secure each bracing member to a. guidewhereby the bracing member will have substantially universal swingingmovement, the pivot for said other leaf being disposed at substantiallyright angles to the pintle of the hinge.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

ERNST J. KRUSE.

